Review: Yesterday (C.K. Kelly Martin)

NOW: It's 1985. Freya Kallas has just moved across the world
and into a new life. On the outside, she fits in at her new high school, but
Freya feels nothing but removed. Her mother blames it on the grief over her
father's death, but how does that explain the headaches and why do her memories
feel so foggy? When Freya lays eyes on Garren Lowe, she can't get him out of
her head. She's sure that she knows him, despite his insistence that they've
never met. As Freya follows her instincts and pushes towards hidden truths, the
two of them unveil a strange and dangerous world where their days may be
numbered. Unsure who to trust, Freya and Garren go on the run from powerful
forces determined to tear them apart and keep them from discovering the truth
about their shared pasts (and futures), her visions, and the time and place
they really came from.

THEN: The formation of the UNA, the high threat of
eco-terrorism, the mammoth rates of unemployment and subsequent escape into a
world of virtual reality are things any student can read about in their 21st
century textbooks and part of the normal background noise to Freya Kallas's
life. Until that world starts to crumble.

I have to tell you, this was a little hard to follow at
times. I am not a huge fan of sci-fi books, so I had to work hard to stay with
it in places. Overall though, I enjoyed this book.

I found it ironic that the "then" this book took
place in was 1985. Of course, the future was far beyond 2012, so I guess it
made sense to think of 1985 as a distant past. But still, it made me chuckle.
The author did a great job weaving in the subtle 80s references from the
characters' point of view. Reading about the popular jock having "Flock of
Seagull hair" was highly entertaining. I think the highlight though, had
to be the music references. So yes, all my 80s music lovers out there... Yesterday
does have 80s musical references. In fact, when I read the first mentioning
of Duran Duran, I had to post it on Facebook for my co-workers (Duran Duran
fans). We had a good laugh over it.

Ok, so funny 80s references aside, this book did have a
pretty suspenseful plot. The characters are transported back to 1985 with no
memory of their former lives. Except one of them does remember--sort of. The
whole plot of the book centers on putting the pieces of this great mystery
together. Where are they from? Why are they here? Why can't they go
"home"?

That final question really grabbed my attention as I read.
As I think about the world we live in, I can't help but think how close to the
truth the author really was. The bio-terror that erupted in the future world
was horrific. Zombies have nothing on what was created in this book!

Sci-fi fans will find plenty to enjoy in this futuristic
dystopian. There was one pretty hot and heavy scene that would make this better
suited for older YA readers.

I love dystopian books that make you think about real world issues! I think that all good dystopian books should have some sort of message like that. This sounds like a fun read (especially with all the 80s references). Thanks for the review!

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